Great Horned Owl vs Red-tailed Hawk
Bubo virginianus so với Buteo jamaicensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Thuộc Tính | Great Horned Owl | Red-tailed Hawk |
|---|---|---|
| Tên Khoa Học | Bubo virginianus | Buteo jamaicensis |
| Bộ | Strigiformes | Accipitriformes |
| Họ | Strigidae | Accipitridae |
| Tình Trạng Bảo Tồn | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Chiều Dài | 55,0 cm (21.7 in) | 53,0 cm (20.9 in) |
| Chiều Dài Sải Cánh | 127,0 cm (50.0 in) | 124,0 cm (48.8 in) |
| Khối Lượng | 1400,0 g (49.38 oz) | 1080,0 g (38.10 oz) |
| Chế Độ Ăn | Extremely diverse — mammals (rabbits, skunks, rodents), birds (including other raptors), reptiles, amphibians, and fish. … | Small to medium mammals, especially voles, mice, and rabbits. Also takes birds, reptiles, and large … |
| Số Trứng | 1-4 | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Môi Trường Sống Chung
Great Horned Owl only
Không
Red-tailed Hawk only
Great Horned Owl
Diverse habitats including forests, deserts, swamps, urban parks, and suburban areas. Nests in tree hollows, cliff ledges, and abandoned nests of other large birds.
Red-tailed Hawk
Open country with scattered elevated perches such as trees, poles, and cliffs. Adaptable to farmland, grasslands, roadsides, and suburban areas.
Song & Call Comparison
Great Horned Owl
Deep, resonant 'who-who-who-who-ooo': the classic 'hoo-h'HOO-hoo-hoo' territorial duet of a mated pair. Booms at dusk. Female pitch slightly higher than male.
Red-tailed Hawk
Iconic, raspy descending scream: 'kreeeeee-ar', often used in films for all raptors. Gives short barking 'kak' notes near nest. Juveniles beg with persistent squealing whistles.
Geographic Range & Migration
Great Horned Owl
North and South America from subarctic Canada to Tierra del Fuego. One of the most widespread owls in the Americas.
Red-tailed Hawk
North America from Alaska to Panama, including the Caribbean. One of the most common raptors in North America.
Tình Trạng Bảo Tồn
Great Horned Owl
Red-tailed Hawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Great Horned Owl
Mottled grey-brown plumage with heavy dark barring. Prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and a white throat patch give a fierce expression.
Dark grey-black hooked bill almost hidden by facial disc feathers
Red-tailed Hawk
Variable plumage from pale to dark morphs. Most adults have rich brown upperparts, a pale breast with a dark belly band, and the characteristic rufous-red tail.
Dark hooked bill with a yellow cere
About These Birds
Great Horned Owl
The great horned owl is the most powerful and widespread owl in the Americas, earning the nickname tiger of the sky. It is one of the earliest nesting birds, often laying eggs in January when snow still covers the ground. Great horned owls are fierce predators, regularly taking prey up to three times their own weight.
Red-tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk is the most widespread and common hawk in North America. Its screaming cry is so iconic that it is often dubbed over bald eagle footage in films and television. These adaptable raptors thrive in human-altered landscapes and are a familiar sight perched along highways.